Say WHAT!!!!

Indiana – Illinois – Iowa – Wisconsin – South Dakota

July 10, 2022

We cutout from the birthday party about 5:00 and drove about 230 miles arriving at the rest area in Danville IL where we spent the night, the following morning we decided so make a sizable detour to check out the Effigy Mounds.

We stopped at Effigy Mounds National Monument today. Most of them are on a ridge overlooking the Mississippi River, for some reason the GPS thought it was faster to cross the river into Wisconsin then back across the river into Iowa, go figure.

These are large dirt mounds in the shape of an animal. Obviously, very old as in pre Columbus and probably much older, anyway the walk to the TOP of the hill was a bit much, while a nice wide path with a mulch base, it was HOT & HUMID.  We both needed to stop a couple of times before reaching the top – UGH.

Anyway, like I said these are on top of a hill on a ridge that drops off on both sides. My question is where did the dirt come from? How far did they need to carry the thousands and thousands of baskets full of dirt. No steel shovels and no wheeled carts, everything was done by hand. All I can say is someone was motivated and dedicated.

From ground level it was impossible to see if the mounds looked like anything, I think we walked about 2 miles total and that was enough for me.

What is this? The only thing I can think of is Bigfoot uses the grove as a toenail sharpener.

Of course once we left and went to a campground a strong wind came along and the humidity dropped noticeably. By strong wind I mean it was to windy to set outside.

Mounds Pictures

SAY WHAT!!!!!

July 12 2022

We came to South Dakota so Mary could renew her Drivers License. When I renewed mind back in early spring I had a choice of walk in or make an appointment. Before we made it to Sioux Falls and the license branch Mary was gong to make an appointment online for the rolling morning. Much to her surprise they are all appointment only now and get this the first available appointment for any branch in the state was August 9th. Fortunately it’s not all bad news she discovered that with a receipt showing that she spent one night in the state she can do her renewal by mail thankfully.

The End